# 1985 West Glamorgan County Council election

The fourth election to West Glamorgan County Council was held in May 1985. It was preceded by the 1981 election and followed by the 1989 election.

## Candidates

Once again, the Labour Party fielded candidates in every ward. In addition to the Conservative Party and Plaid Cymru, a significant number of seats were contested by the SDP/Liberal Alliance. There were fewer Ratepayer candidates than at previous elections.
In the Neath area, Labour contested all thirteen seats, with Plaid Cymru running nine candidates.

## Outcome

Labour retained their majority.

## Results

* indicates sitting councillor

## Ward Results
### Aberavon East and West (three seats)

Aberavon East and West 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | Colin Crowley* | 3,703 | |
| | Labour | Cyril Lewis* | 3,389 | |
| | Labour | Pat Jones* | 3,310 | |
| | Alliance | T. Johnston | 1,090 | |
| | Alliance | E. Prescott | 1,050 | |
| | Alliance | B. Makinson | 783 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Aberavon North (one seat)

Aberavon North 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Malcolm Harris | 2,063 |
| | Ratepayers | L. Griffiths | 937 |
| | Alliance | J. Larsen | 419 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Aberavon South (one seat)

Aberavon South 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | W. Llewellyn | 1,183 |
| | Alliance | A. Taylor | 641 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Brynmelyn (two seats)

Brynmelyn 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | R. Dowdle* | 1,407 | |
| | Labour | J. Adams* | 1,334 | |
| | Conservative | P. Morgan | 382 | |
| | Ratepayers | M. John | 348 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Castle (two seats)

Castle 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Jones | 945 | |
| | Labour | B. Ludlam* | 893 | |
| | Ratepayers | I. Williams | 558 | |
| | Ratepayers | B. Matthews | 508 | |
| | Conservative | S. Patriarcia | 358 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 46.0 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Cwmafan (one seat)

Cwmafan 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Mel John* | 1,586 |
| | Alliance | M. Harris | 434 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Fforest Fach (two seats)

Fforest Fach 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Bevan* | 1,292 | |
| | Labour | Victor Cyril Alexander* | 1,193 | |
| | Ratepayers | D. Jones | 1,115 | |
| | Ratepayers | L. Evans | 1,091 | |
| | Conservative | C. Andrews | 767 | |
| | Conservative | E. Charles | 750 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | A. Williams | 319 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Morton | 305 | |
| | Communist | B. Lewis | 92 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 37.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Ffynone (two seats)

Ffynone 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | Paul Valerio* | 1,840 | |
| | Ratepayers | J. Thomas | 1,383 | |
| | Conservative | G. Ashmole | 1,296 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | J. Thomas | 456 | |
| | Liberal | S. Evans | 441 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 63.6 |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
| | Ratepayers gain from Conservative | Ratepayers gain from Conservative | Swing | |

### Glyncorrwg (two seats)

Glyncorrwg 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | T. Jones | 1,699 | |
| | Labour | R. Eckett | 1,180 | |
| | Independent Labour | D. Daniels* | 1,068 | |
| | Independent | Mairwen Goodridge | 872 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 58.8 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Gower No.1 (one seat)

Gower No.1 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | J. Bartlett | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | | |

### Gower No.2 (one seat)

Gower No.2 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Ratepayers | C. Sanders | 1,660 | |
| | Labour | F. Lord* | 1,407 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 64.5 |
| | Ratepayers gain from Labour | Ratepayers gain from Labour | Swing | |

### Gower No.3 (one seat)

Gower No.3 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Conservative | P. Bevan | 1,565 | |
| | Ratepayers | G. Beynon | 1,166 | |
| | Labour | M. Thomas | 273 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.4 |
| | Conservative gain from Liberal | Conservative gain from Liberal | Swing | |

### Landore (two seats)

Landore 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Cox* | 1,286 | |
| | Labour | S. John* | 1,237 | |
| | Ratepayers | J. Lewis | 921 | |
| | Ratepayers | C. Phillips | 917 | |
| | Communist | R. Thomas | 97 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 43.4 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llansamlet (two seats)

Llansamlet 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | L. Penhaligan* | 2,471 | |
| | Labour | W. Davies | 1,931 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | C. Phillips | 1,181 | |
| | Ratepayers | E. James | 845 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | W. Smith | 779 | |
| | Ratepayers | C. Stevens | 773 | |
| | Conservative | J. Edgecombe | 661 | |
| | Conservative | J. Holmes | 560 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 42.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llwchwr No.1 (one seat)

Llwchwr No.1 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | G. Williams | 1,410 | |
| | Independent | D. Thomas | 829 | |
| | Conservative | R. Day | 576 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 62.9 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llwchwr No.2 (two seats)

Llwchwr No.2 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Davies* | 2,518 | |
| | Labour | J. Jones* | 1,962 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | E. Thomas | 1,780 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 48.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Llwchwr No.3 (two seats)

Llwchwr No.3 1977 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | J. Thomas* | 1,835 | |
| | Labour | D. Turner* | 1,697 | |
| | Conservative | W. Davies | 1,301 | |
| | Independent | Cled Morgan | 1,176 | |
| | Conservative | M. Bevan | 1,167 | |
| | Plaid Cymru | H. Price | 862 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 64.6 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Margam Central (one seat)

Margam Central 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | J. Rogers | 1,642 |
| | Alliance | W. Rees | 334 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Margam North (one seat)

Margam North 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labour | D. Southall | 735 | |
| | Independent | W. Charles | 561 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 75.1 |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | |

### Margam West (one seat)

Margam West 1985 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Ratepayers | Edward Miles* | 1,079 |
| | Labour | B. Davis | 743 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Ratepayers hold | Ratepayers hold | Swing |

### Morriston (two seats)

Morriston 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | P. Evans | 1,996 | | |
| | Labour | S. Havard | 1,977 | | |
| | Ratepayers | C. Hadley | 1,810 | | |
| | Ratepayers | J. Howes | 1,295 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 35.8 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Mumbles (two seats)

Mumbles 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | A. Chilcot | 3,180 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Jones | 3,072 | | |
| | Labour | L. Neale | 1,757 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 38.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Neath No.1, South and Briton Ferry (four seats)

Neath No.1, South and Briton Ferry 1985 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | Dillwyn David* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour | David Jeffs* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour | Fred Kingdom* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour | David Roberts* | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
| Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Neath No.2, North, Pontrhydyfen and Tonmawr (two seats)

Neath No.2, North, Pontrhydyfen and Tonmawr 1981 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes |
| | Labour | Frank Cecil Evans* | 2,174 |
| | Labour | M. Jones* | 2,062 |
| | Conservative | J. Lloyd | 878 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing |

### Neath Rural (six seats)

Neath Rural 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | R. Jones | 2,905 | | |
| | Independent | Martin Thomas$^o$ | 2,534 | | |
| | Labour | N. Thomas | 2,385 | | |
| | Labour | T. Thomas | 2,131 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | H. Evans | 1,919 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | O. Roberts | 1,629 | | |
| | Labour | W. Jones | 1,575 | | |
| | Labour | C. Jones | 1,499 | | |
| | Independent | T. Rees | 1,346 | | |
| | Labour | R. Davies | 1,300 | | |
| | Independent | L. Adams | 1,191 | | |
| | Communist | Glaslyn Morgan | 734 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | T. Evans | 346 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 67.3 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) |
| | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) | Plaid Cymru win (new seat) |

### Neath Rural No.5 (one seat)

Neath Rural No.5 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | D. Hull | 1,470 | | |
| | Independent | R. Rees | 1,277 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | G. Dawe | 273 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 63.2 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Penderry (three seats)

Penderry 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | John Allison | 3,152 | | |
| | Labour | T. Jones | 3,090 | | |
| | Labour | G. Thomas | 3,032 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | D. Reynon | 972 | | |
| | Communist | W. Jones | 584 | | |
| | Communist | B. Lewis | 424 | | |
| | Communist | H. Barrow | 280 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 29.4 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Pontardawe No.1 (one seat)

Pontardawe No.1 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | J. Williams | 1,151 | 62.1 | |
| | Labour | G. Williams | 703 | 37.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 56.1 | |
| | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) | Independent win (new seat) |

### Pontardawe No.2 (two seats)

Pontardawe No.2 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | J. Maunder | 2,694 | | |
| | Independent | M. Rees | 1,948 | | |
| | Labour | C. Jones | 1,836 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | M. Mulcahy | 1,507 | | |
| | Independent | R. Jones | 1,037 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 78.9 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Pontardawe No.3 (three seats)

Pontardawe No.3 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | G. Lake | 4,702 | | |
| | Labour | W. Rees | 4,615 | | |
| | Labour | B. Richards | 4,464 | | |
| | Plaid Cymru | R. Davies | 3,305 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 65.4 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St Helens (two seats)

St Helens 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | C. Dilley | 1,741 | | |
| | Conservative | M. Hinds | 1,545 | | |
| | Labour | D. Davies | 1,067 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 49.1 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### Sketty (two seats)

Sketty 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | M. Vaughan | 5,270 | | |
| | Conservative | S. Perry | 4,819 | | |
| | Conservative | R. Massey-Shaw | 4,477 | | |
| | Labour | J. Dalton | 2,372 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 47.2 | |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |
| | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) | Conservative win (new seat) |

### St Johns (two seats)

St Johns 1973 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | A, Morris | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour | H. Tabram | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### St Thomas (two seats)

St Thamas 1973 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Labour | A. Hare | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour | I. Morgan | Unopposed | Unopposed | Unopposed |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Townhill (two seats)

Townhill 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | T. Wignall | 1,848 | | |
| | Labour | T. Evans | 1,748 | | |
| | Conservative | C. McPherson | 429 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 34.4 | |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |
| | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) | Labour win (new seat) |

### Victoria (two seats)

Victoria 1973 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Ratepayers | D. Jenkins | 1,390 | | |
| | Ratepayers | S. Jenkins | 1,132 | | |
| | Labour | A. Taylor | 1,051 | | |
| | Labour | R. Lloyd | 852 | | |
| | Conservative | T. Morgan | 477 | | |
| | Conservative | E. Burrington | 329 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 57.5 | |
| | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) |
| | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) | Ratepayers win (new seat) |